Jalen Hurts will make some overdue NFL history when he faces off with Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, and the Philadelphia Eagles star made it clear how proud he is of the opportunity to represent a wide range of people in the first Super Bowl matchup of black quarterbacks.
Hurts will look to lead the Eagles to victory over Mahomes' Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in a mouthwatering clash between two number one seeds at State Farm Stadium.
Mahomes and Hurts are the top two candidates for MVP and, having gone from second-round pick who many doubted could make the grade at the highest level to one of the faces of the league, the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback is determined to make those who identify with him a part of his journey proud as it reaches a zenith few would have seen coming this early in his career.
"It’s a ton of pride in everything that’s going on right now," Hurts said at a press conference on Wednesday.
"I think when you're thrust into these situations, you're thrust into these opportunities, you don't really realise the impact your doing until you reflect on it.
"I think, to have these opportunities and be able to represent so many different people, people back home in Texas, quarterbacks that maybe they said they couldn't do something or whatever it is, just believers, it’s something I definitely have in my heart when I'm out there playing.
"I never forget where I come from and most importantly I know there are kids out there watching, always kids that are watching, kids back in Texas, Philly, Florida, Cali, here in AZ, wherever it is, there's always a kid out there watching.
"I heard someone say, I don't know if it was Michael Jordan or Kobe [Bryant], but sometimes you get families and kids that save up all their money just to go to that one game, they may not ever get to see you play in person again, so definitely want to put on a show for them when they come."
Hurts' comments came on the heels of effusive praise from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who unsurprisingly faced several questions about a league first that is over five decades in the making.
Asked why it has taken so long for a Super Bowl with two black quarterbacks, Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl press conference: "You know, there are probably a variety of reasons. Probably none of them good. Because the reality is, there's such great talent at that position, black and white.
"I think we have 11 black starting quarterbacks today. They're some of the best leaders I've ever seen. They're extraordinary. People talk about their talent and their ability to run but they are incredible leaders. They understand the offence they run complex offenses, probably more complex than we've ever run in the past.
"And they really add such an element to the game and I think our game has changed because of their talents. And I think that game has changed on the college level also to develop their talents earlier and that's true for all quarterbacks.
"But I just think it's another example of where diversity makes you better. Think about this league without those 11 great young quarterbacks. Think about the two in the Super Bowl. They make the league better. And that's what we're so proud of."
Broncos reportedly trade for Jets QB Wilson
Zach Wilson has a chance to restart his career in a new setting after the Denver Broncos reportedly traded for the former starting quarterback from the New York Jets on Monday, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The Broncos are also acquiring a seventh-round pick in this year's NFL draft, and the Jets will receive a sixth-rounder.
New York will also pay part of Wilson's $5.5million salary next season.
Wilson arrives in Denver after never living up to expectations with the Jets after the franchise selected him second overall in the 2021 draft.
He went 3-10 as a rookie in 2021, and things didn't improve in 2022, leading to his benching.
The Jets had seen enough and decided to move on from Wilson, trading for Aaron Rodgers prior to the 2023 season. Wilson, though, got another chance to start after Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive with New York in the season opener.
He was unable to take advantage of that opportunity, however, throwing for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games in 2023. His 77.2 passer rating ranked 30th out of 32 qualifying QBs last season.
In 34 career games, he has completed 57.0 per cent of his passes for 6,293 yards with 23 TDs and 25 picks.
Among the 30 quarterbacks with a minimum of 700 pass attempts since 2021, Wilson ranks last in completion percentage and QB rating (73.2), and 29th in both touchdown passes and yards per attempt (6.34).
In Denver, he'll likely get a chance to compete for the starting QB job after the Broncos released Russell Wilson in early March.
The only other quarterbacks on Denver's roster are Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci, but the team could also decide to select one in Thursday's draft.
Eagles lock up wide receiver Smith through 2028
The Philadelphia Eagles locked up wide receiver DeVonta Smith through the 2028 season on Monday.
Philadelphia exercised its fifth-year option on Smith for the 2025 season and agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension that runs through 2028.
Smith’s extension is reportedly worth $75million, including $51million in guaranteed money.
Philadelphia selected Smith with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after he won the Heisman Trophy with Alabama in 2020.
Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 and first non-quarterback or running back to capture the honour since cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997.
Smith has caught 240 passes for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in 50 regular-season games while adding 27 receptions for 405 yards and a TD catch in five postseason contests.
OJ Simpson: Cherished star whose fall from grace was seen live by millions on TV
From cherished American superstar to villain whose murder trial captivated a global audience, OJ Simpson’s fall from grace was startling.
Simpson, nicknamed ‘The Juice’, has died at the age of 76 after losing his battle with prostate cancer, leaving behind four children.
Before the low-speed car chase by police and ‘Trial of the Century’ that began the unravelling of his reputation, Simpson was a darling of American sport who had also carved out a successful acting career.
He was raised in a low income neighbourhood in San Francisco and joined a local gang but his athleticism offered a route out and he found his purpose in gridiron.
A prolific running back, he starred for USC and in 1968 won the Heisman Trophy awarded to the outstanding player in college football. Inevitably, he was first overall draught pick the following year.
Progress in his first couple of seasons at the Buffalo Bills was slow but his impact grew and he went on to become one of the most successful operators in his position, winning the NFL’s most valuable player in 1973 and being inducted into the hall of fame in 1985.
He became the game’s highest paid player and lucrative commercial deals also followed as companies looked to leverage his charisma and popularity, while his acting career included parts in blockbusters ‘Towering Inferno’ and ‘The Naked Gun’.
For all his film presence he was little known outside the United States but that changed for all the wrong reasons when he was arrested in 1994 for the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Brown and Goldman had been found stabbed to death in LA and once police had filed charges, Simpson refused to turn himself in and was pursued in an extraordinary car chase that was at low speed because he had a gun pointed to his head.
The event was televised live to millions and projected his notoriety worldwide, with the broadcasting of his subsequent murder trial only intensifying interest in this fallen star.
He was acquitted the following year but a civil lawsuit found him liable for the deaths, resulting in an order to pay £26.7million pounds to the victims of the families. Only a fraction of that amount was actually paid.
Arrests followed for a variety of offences in the early 2000s and his lowest point eventually came in 2007 when he was charged with armed robbery and kidnapping.
He served nine of a 33-year jail sentence and upon his release he continued to live in Las Vegas, looking increasingly frail when in public but active on social media. Simpson always maintained his innocence of the murders.
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